JGRMX/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing Report: Glendale Supercross

Huntersville, NC (January 14, 2018)– The JGRMX/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing Team traveled to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona for round two of the 2019 Monster Energy Supercross series. For the team, there were many positive takeaways from a day full of action. Justin Hill set the fastest qualifying time on his Suzuki RM-Z450. Teammate Chad Reed brought the crowd to their feet when the Australian charged up to second place in his heat race. In the 250 West class, Jimmy Decotis logged lightning-fast laps and finished inside the top-five. Rookie Enzo Lopes capitalized on a difficult situation by winning the last chance qualifier.

Jimmy Decotis rode his Suzuki RM-Z250 at a high level in Glendale, setting the fourth-fastest qualifying time. He holeshot his heat race, led for over a lap, and settled into second. The Massachusetts native ended the main event in fifth place. Decotis now sits sixth in the 250 West points standings.

Justin Hill unleashed the fastest qualifying lap in the 450 class, earning the top seed heading into the night program. Hill finished seventh in his heat race after battling with many of the sport’s veterans. The Oregon native came through the first turn of the main event inside the top-five but was pushed off the track. Hill remounted, dug deep, and charged through the field up to 13th. He is currently 14th in the 450 class points standings.

Two-time Supercross Champion Chad Reed showed veteran poise by methodically picking off riders in his heat race and finishing second. Reed rode with consistency in the main event and was on the cusp of finishing inside the top-ten. The Australian finished 14th in the main event and sits 12th in the points standings.

Rookie Enzo Lopes qualified inside the top-ten heading into the night show for the 250 class and was running fifth place in his heat race. Unfortunately, a bike malfunction forced him to the last chance qualifier, which he won. Lopes was in a good position to press forward in the main until several crashes relegated him to 21st. Lopes is 17th in the points standings after the first two rounds of the 250 West Championship.

Jimmy Decotis [250 Class, 5th Place] – “There were good improvements at Glendale. My Suzuki RM-Z250 was working really well all day long. I felt like I had the starts dialed in. I’m really comfortable on my bike right now and feeling fast. I’m ready to head back to Anaheim and drop the gate on the three main events for the Triple Crown. I want to give a big shout-out to my whole team for all of the work this weekend. We are having fun, and I’m confident better results will come!”

Justin Hill [450 Class, 13th Place] – “As frustrated as I am with the main event finish, I can take a couple positives out of the day. I was fastest overall in the daytime qualifying sessions, and I had a really good start in the main. Unfortunately, I crashed soon after that and was in last place. Fixing those little mistakes will be the difference for me.”

Chad Reed [450 Class, 14th Place] – “Glendale was a really positive day, and the heat race was special. The team did a great job of helping me find a feeling that I’ve been chasing. This helped massively throughout the whole weekend. The main was disappointing, but I’m focused on the feeling we found, and I’m looking forward to a solid week ahead. Video replay shows what I’m doing wrong on my starts, so I’ll look to correct that before Anaheim 2.”

Enzo Lopes [250 Class, 21st Place] – “The heat race was going okay. I wasn’t flowing very well, because I was trying too hard. There was a bike issue, but the guys got things turned around quickly. I didn’t get the best start in the last chance qualifier, but I won the race and got experience leading a professional Supercross. My gate pick was really far outside for the main and the rut in front of the gate was not optimal, but I had a good jump. I was running around tenth, but I crashed after the whoops. Then I crashed again a few laps later and messed up my clutch lever, which caused me to call it an early night. I’m learning a lot. The speed is there. Now I just need to put it all together.”

Jeremy Albrecht [Team Manager] – “There were some positives to take from the weekend. Chad Reed’s heat race was awesome. It was the best I’ve seen him in a race situation. His whoop speed was unbelievable. He’s finding more comfort with the bike, and it’s showing. Justin Hill rode really well, with getting the fastest qualifying time. He didn’t ride as well in the heat race, which put him outside for the main event start. He was right up there, but he got pushed off the track and crashed. Justin made some good moves to move toward the front. After the red flag re-start he got some arm pump and didn’t get to push the way he wanted to.”

“As for our 250 riders, Jimmy Decotis rode really well. He improved a lot from last week. Had a few little bobbles, which kept him from getting on the podium. Enzo Lopes is still learning. It’s part of being a rookie. He showed a lot of promise. He had a bike malfunction in his heat race and went to the last chance qualifier, but he looked really good in winning that race.”

The JGRMX/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing Team will travel back to Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. on Saturday, January 19th, for the third round of the 2019 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. This will also serve as the third round of the 250 Western Regional Supercross series.

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